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GHENT, Ky. — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said Monday he isn’t going to give Gov. Matt Bevin advice on whether he should concede to Democrat Andy Beshear, but “all indications are” Kentucky will have a new governor next month.

McConnell, R-Ky., spoke briefly with reporters about the fallout from last week’s statewide election when he visited North American Stainless in Carroll County, where he celebrated the passage of a treaty with Spain earlier this year that saved the company millions in taxes.

McConnell said he was sorry Bevin came up short by about 5,000 votes in his race for reelection, but he had a good four years.

“And I think all indications are, barring some dramatic reversal on a recanvass, that we’ll have a different governor in three weeks,” the Senate majority leader said.

He fielded a few more questions related to next year’s election and was careful to point out that Kentucky Democrats still have to pick a nominee.

“The Democrats haven’t had a primary yet,” he said. “We’ll see who the opponent is.”

“We know which one has a lot of money,” he added, in an apparent reference to Amy McGrath, a Democrat and former Marine who hopes to run against McConnell next November.

Recent federal fundraising data showed McGrath had raised more money than McConnell in 2019, based on their campaigns’ financial hauls through Sept. 30.

McGrath brought in more than $10.7 million since she entered the race in July, according to information posted by the Federal Election Commission. That outstrips the approximately $7.5 million McConnell brought in this year through Sept. 30, although he still has the edge in overall fundraising.

As for Matt Jones, the well-known Kentucky Sports Radio host who has been floated as a possible competitor in the 2020 Senate race, McConnell said Monday his campaign wasn’t involved in getting Jones booted off his television or radio shows.

That complaint accused Jones of “serious violations” of various regulations, but Jones hasn’t formally declared himself a candidate in the race to unseat McConnell and called the complaint “absolute nonsense.”

Earlier this year, a Lexington TV station decided to have Jones take a leave of absence from his hosting duties on the show “Hey Kentucky!” while he considered whether to run in the primary that will determine which Democrat faces McConnell next fall.

The station’s decision came shortly after McGrath announced she’d enter the race.

“He wasn’t pulled off anything by the McConnell campaign, either his TV show or his radio show,” the Senate majority leader told reporters Monday morning.

He also said: “I’ll be happy to run against whoever wins the nomination.”

Before he spoke to reporters Monday about last week's gubernatorial election and next year's Senate race, McConnell chatted with employees at North American Stainless about the treaty with Spain, for which he provided crucial support.

North American Stainless is a subsidiary of a company based in Spain.

At Monday's event, a company executive thanked the Senate majority leader for his successful push to get the treaty approved, saying businesses like this one “found a champion in Mitch McConnell.”

The executive also announced plans to invest around $30 million in North American Stainless’ Kentucky operation — an investment he said was made possible by McConnell's efforts. (Getting the Spain treaty passed has been credited with saving the business about $35 million.)

McConnell told the crowd at the stainless steel operation in Ghent that his role in ensuring the treaty's passage underscores why it's important that he serves as one of the country's top four congressional leaders — and is the only one who isn't from New York or California.

"My job is to look out for Middle America, and my favorite state in Middle America happens to be Kentucky," he told the folks gathered in Ghent that morning.

Governor Matt Bevin took to the stage in the Archibald Ballroom of the Galt House on Tuesday night to announce that he had not yet conceded the tightly run race with opponent Andy Beshear. 11/5/19 Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

Governor Matt Bevin took to the stage in the Archibald Ballroom of the Galt House on Tuesday night to announce that he had not yet conceded the tightly run race with opponent Andy Beshear. 11/5/19 Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

"Tonight voters sent out a message loud and clear," said Governor-elect Andy Beshear. "They don't have to be about right versus left. They are still about right versus wrong. We showed this country we can disagree with each other while still respecting each other. My expectation is (Matt Bevin) will honor this election tonight." Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 Matt Stone/Courier Journal

People danced as it became clear that Andy Beshear was declared the winner after the attorney general defeated incumbent Governor Matt Bevin in a bitter campaign between the two on Election Night Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 Matt Stone/Courier Journal

An unidentified woman took to the stage at the Republican election night party to declare Matt Bevin the winner in the governor's race only to be silenced and removed swiftly by security at the Galt House. 11/5/19 Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said "To our educators, this is your victory" during his speech in Louisville after defeating incumbent Governor Matt Bevin on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 Waving to the crowd at far right is Steve Beshear, Andy's father and former Kentucky governor Matt Stone/Courier Journal

Governor Matt Bevin took to the stage in the Archibald Ballroom of the Galt House on Tuesday night to announce that he had not yet conceded the tightly run race with opponent Andy Beshear. 11/5/19) Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

Governor Matt Bevin took to the stage in the Archibald Ballroom of the Galt House on Tuesday night to announce that he had not yet conceded the tightly run race with opponent Andy Beshear. 11/5/19 Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

"Tonight voters sent out a message loud and clear," said Governor-elect Andy Beshear. "They don't have to be about right versus left. They are still about right versus wrong. We showed this country we can disagree with each other while still respecting each other. My expectation is (Matt Bevin) will honor this election tonight." Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 Matt Stone/Courier Journal

Governor Matt Bevin took to the stage in the Archibald Ballroom of the Galt House on Tuesday night to announce that he had not yet conceded the tightly run race with opponent Andy Beshear. 11/5/19 Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

Governor Matt Bevin took to the stage in the Archibald Ballroom of the Galt House on Tuesday night to announce that he had not yet conceded the tightly run race with opponent Andy Beshear. 11/5/19 Marty Pearl/Special to Courier Journal

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is greeted by a poll worker as he arrived at Anchorage Presbyterian Church to vote. Bevin is fighting to hold the office against Democrat Andy Beshear. Nov. 5, 2019 Photo by Pat McDonogh

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin cast his vote at Anchorage Presbyterian Church. Bevin is fighting to hold the office against Democrat Andy Beshear. A videographer with Showtime films a woman leaving the church with her daughter after voting. Nov. 5, 2019 Photo by Pat McDonogh

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear arrives to vote at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear arrives to vote at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear arrives to vote at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear arrives to vote at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear walks from the poling location at Knights of Columbus with his son, Will. Beshear voted with his son and his wife, Britainy, and their daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear walks from the poling location at Knights of Columbus with his son, Will. Beshear voted with his son and his wife, Britainy, and their daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear walks from the poling location at Knights of Columbus with his son, Will. Beshear voted with his son and his wife, Britainy, and their daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear walks from the poling location at Knights of Columbus with his son, Will. Beshear voted with his son and his wife, Britainy, and their daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear leaves after speaking to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal

Attorney General and Democrat candidate for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear leaves after speaking to the media after voting at Knights of Columbus in Louisville with his wife, Britainy, and son, Will, and daughter, Lila.
November 5, 2019 By Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal